Mortise lock construction



July 15, 1969 J. P. FORBES E MORTISE LOCK CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1967 M1 AF FIG.4

1N VEN TORS JOHN POST FORBES RAPHAEL W. GODIN ATTORNEY July 15, 1969 J p, FORBES ETAL 3,455,129

MORTISE LOCK CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1967 INVENTORS JOHN POST FORBES RAPHAEL W. GODIN ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 70-370 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mortise lock construction having a decorative collar member surrounding and permitting access therethrough to a lock plug, the collar member being pivotally mounted to the lock housing to permit a conforming fit with the door face, the lock including means for shifting the lock axially inwardly of the door face, to compress the collar tightly against the face of the door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to mortise locks, and more particularly to mortise locks of the type in which the lock projects from a face of the door through an aperture drilled in the door face, the lock including a collar carried by the lock housing and surrounding the aperture in the door face.

Description of the prior art In locks of the sO-called mortise type, a latch housing is mounted in a mortise formed in the door edge. An aperture is drilled in the door face communicating with the housing. Typically, a lock assembly is passed through the aperture in the door face and threadedly mounted in a complementally threaded aperture formed in the housing. A skirt or surround on the lock mechanism covers the aperture formed on the door face, the skirt or surround being drawn as tightly as possible against the face of the door by rotation of the lock. When the skirt or surround is pressed as tightly as possible against the door face and with the keyway of the plug in a vertical orientation, a machine screw threaded in the latch housing is shifted inwardly from the door edge into engagement with the lock, to prevent rotation of the lock.

From the foregoing it will be evident that in order to assure a vertical orientation of the keyway of the lock plug, it is often necessary that the lock itself not be threaded against the door face to the tightest possible degree. This fact often results in the existence of a space between the innermost edge of the skirt or surround and the face of the door.

Spaces may also be caused by the fact that the lock housing may not always be installed perfectly normal to the face of the door. Similarly, unevenness or non-perpendicular relation between the side and the face of the door may likewise be the cause of the existence of unsightly and security reducing cracks or spaces between the lock skirt and the door face.

In addition to detracting from the appearance of the installation, the existence of such cracks or spaces may provide an access way for an intruder to place a tool or pry between the door face and the skirt or surround, to compromise the lock. Also, when the lock is used on an outside door, dirt, moisture, etc. may be admitted to the interior of the housing through the spaces.

Prior attempts have been made to compensate for spaces created by improperly fitted lock assemblies by interposing a yieldable spring connection between the surround and the lock, or the surround and the door face,

permitting the lock to be tightly threaded into position in the latch housing, the final threading rotations of the lock compressing the yieldable spring connection, to assure that the surround will be tightly biased against the door face notwithstanding inaccuracies in the mounting of the latch housing, irregularities in the door face, etc. Such yieldable mechanisms have, in turn, given rise to new deficiencies in operation, including a weakened connection between the skirt and the lock and the ability to pry between the door face and the skirt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an axially insertible lock mechanism for a mortise type lock provided with a collar or like surround, providing a degree of movement to accommodate for inaccuracies in mounting of the latch housing and improper, nonperpendicular relation of the'door face and the door edge.

The invention further relates to a device of the class described in which the single operation of tightening of the rotation deterring screw normally employed in mortise locks also functions to mount the collar or surround tightly against the face of the door.

The invention relates further to a device of the class described in which the foregoing functions are accomplished without providing any undesirable degree of yieldability between the collar and the door or lock housf Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved lock mechanism for a mortise lock or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which is capable of accommodating itself to irregularities in a door due to improper construction of the door or improper mounting of the mortise lock in the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described wherein the mounting collar is tightly pressed against the face of the door by the action of tightening the retainer screw securing the lock within the latch housing, the resultant installation displaying no appreciable yielda'bility between the collar and the door face or housing.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front sectional view of a mortise lock assembly, including a lock mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, 10 a conventional mortise lock assembly mounted in a complemental cutout or mortise portion 11 formed in a door or the like. 12 is the latch bolt of the latch assembly which, in the closed position, enters into strike aperture 13 formed in the usual strike plate 14, fixed to the door frame 15 as by screws 16 or the like.

The operation of the latch assembly 10 which controls the strike 12 forms no part of the present invention and is so well known as not to require description or illustration. It is suflicent for an understanding of the present invention to note that latch operator cam 17, which may be rotated by operation of the lock assembly 18, functions to withdraw the lacth bolt, 12 the cam 17 being connected to the latch bolt by any suitable and conventional bolt operator link mechanism.

The lock assembly 18 comprises the usual lock housing 19 of generally cylindrical conformation, having an axially directed bore 20, Within which bore is rotatably mounted lock plug 21. Any suitable locking means, such as tumbler pins 22, normally prevent the plug from being rotated within the bore 20, except when a suitable lock operating key (not shown) capable of aligning the tumblers is inserted in the keyway of the plug.

The plug, at its outer end, is provided with an enlarged head 23 which lies against the outermost face 24 of the housing surrounding the bore 20, to locate the plug against movement inwardly of the lock housing.

The cam member 17 is secured to the innermost end of the plug, as by machine screws 25, to prevent removal of the plug in an outward direction.

A decorative collar member 26 is pivotally mounted to the housing 19 by a pair of diametrically opposed pins 27, 28 which are fixed to the collar and extend into diametrically opposed, co-axially aligned apertures 29, 30 formed in vertically spaced relation on the housing.

The pin 27 in the illustrated embodiment is permanently staked in an aperture 31 formed in the collar. The pin 28 is provided with an enlarged threaded shank 32, threaded into a complementally threaded bore 33 formed in the collar.

It will be understood that the collar is assembled over the outer end of the lock housing by first placing the pin portion 29 in its complemental aperture 29a of the housing and thereafter threading the pin 28 into the complemental and diametrically opposed aperture 30 formed in the lower portion of the housing. While it is preferred that the lower pin 28 be threaded into its operative position, it Will be readily recognized that the lowermost pin also may be staked, soldered or otherwise affixed in position after the collar is assembled over the outer end 24 of the housing.

The collar is provided with an aperture 34 which accommodates, with moderate clearances, the outwardly projecting portion 23 of the lock plug, thus permitting a degree of movement of the collar with respect to the housing, such movement being permitted by the pivotal connection afforded by the pins and housing previously described.

Mounting measn isproivded for positioning the lock assembly within the latch bolt housing 19 against unauthorized removal. Such positioning mechanism includes a threaded tubular member 35 formed integrally with and projecting inwardly normal to the end wall or face plate 36 of the latch assembly, said face plate 36 being exposed at and in co-planar alignment With the edge 37 of the door. A retainer screw 38 is threaded within tubular member 35, the screw 38 being preferably provided with a conic or frusto-conic head portion 39.

The housing 19 of the lock assembly, at its opposite sides, is provided with outwardly opening, dove-tail slots 40, 41, which slots extend axially of the housing and are calculated to receive a retainer seat 42. It will be understood that only one of the two slots, i.e. the slot nearest to the door edge, will be provided with a retainer seat. The slot within which the seat is mounted will, of course, depend upon the handing of the door with which the lock is to be used and, as will be appreciated from a consideration of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the handing may be readily changed by shifting the seat from one to the other of the two slots.

The seat, which is dove tail shaped in vertical section so as to fit intimately within the slot 41, is provided with a locking set screw 43 which will serve to maintain the seat at any desired axially adjusted location within the appropriate dove tail slot. Additionally, the seat includes an angular portion 44 which, when the seat is properly adjusted, will be located in the path of the nose portion 39 of the retainer screw 38.

An end plate 45 is disposed in capping position at the innermost end of the dove tail slot 41 and is maintained in said relation by machine screws 46, the plate functioning to prevent removal of the lock assembly in an outward direction in the unlikely event that the set screw 43 becomes loosened from its connection in the dove tail slot 41.

Whereas most mortise lock devices are provided with a male thread formed about the lock housing, threadedly connected to a female thread formed in the latch bolt housing, no such thread connection is formed in the device of the present invention. instead, the lock assembly 18 may be axially, endwisely inserted through bore 47 form d in the housing 10, which registers with the usual access bore 48 formed through the front face of the door. Optionally, the dove tail slot (in this instance 40), which does not carry the retainer seat 42, may receive an inwardly directed portion 49 extending from the housing so as positively to prevent relative rotation of the lock assembly and the housing after insertion of the lock assembly.

The lock assembly is shifted rearwardly within the housing until the collar 26 is pressed against the face of the door. With the parts thus positioned, the retainer screw 38 is threaded inwardly toward the seat 42 until the tapered or conic nose portion 39 of the retainer screw engages against the cam face 44 of the retainer seat.

It will be observed that further tightening of the screw will function to shift the lock assembly inwardly with respect to the latch housing, due to the cam and follower relation of the seat and screw, thus tightly to press the door adjacent surfaces of the collar against the door in the areas surrounding the aperture 48 formed in the face of the door.

Due to the pivotal connection of the collar with respect to the lock housing, all spaces between the collar and the door face will be sealed upon the application of an inward axial force to the lock housing. In contrast, in typical mortise lock asemblies wherein the collar is fixed to or integral with the lock housing, and wherein the lock housing is threaded into the latch housing, no provision is available to compensate for inaccuracies or irregularities, resulting in unsightly spaces being defined between the door and the collar.

Optionally but preferably, the interfit of the lock housing within the bore 47 of the latch housing provides slight clearances to permit a slight upward and downward tilting of the lock housing so as to accommodate for irregularities in a vertical plane.

Even though a threaded pin is used to secure the collar to the housing, there is little danger that the collar could be removed by unthreading of the pin after the device is mounted in the door. This is so since the inward axial forces exerted by the retainer screw against the seat 44 set up a shear which resists rotation of the screw threaded pin 32 after the tightening force is applied.

It will be further noted that even if the decorative collar 26 were removed, this would not compromise the security of the device since the retainer screw 38 still prevents rotation of the lock assembly, as does the entrance of the portion 49 into the slot 40.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the lock housing is able to accommodate itself to variations in the door so as to seal tightly against the face of the door, without the use of undesirable means, such as springs or yieldable parts, to achieve this function.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A lock of the mortise type comprising a main housing adapted to be mounted in a mortised door, with a side wall portion substantially flush with the door edge, a cylinder housing removably mounted in said main housing, with a front portion of said cylinder housing projecting beyond said main housing, a lock plug rotatably mounted in said cylinder housing, said plug including a face portion projecting outwardly beyond said front portion of said cylinder housing, a decorative collar memher having an aperture formed therethrough, said face portion of said plug projecting through said aperture of said collar, said face portion and aperture providing sufiicient clearances to permit relative movement of said collar and said plug, pivot means extending between said cylinder housing and said collar and mounting said collar to said cylinder housing for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the axis of rotation of said plug, retainer means threadedly mounted in said side wall portion of said main housing for movement toward and away from said cylinder housing and having an inwardly directed end portion, and retainer seat means axially adjustably mounted on said housing, said retainer seat means including a cam face inclined toward the front portion of said lock plug, said cam portion being disposed in registry with said end portion of said retainer means whereby radial threading movement of said retaining means against said cam portion shifts said housing toward the interior of said main housing tightly to clamp said collar against the face of said door.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the path of movement of said retainer means is displaced about 90 from the pivot axis of said collar about said housing.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a pivot member threadedly mounted in said collar and engaging a complemental bearing portion on said cylinder housing.

4. In a lock of the mortise type including a main housing having a side wall, a mounting bore, a lock cylinder parallel to said side wall mountable in said bore and having a lock plug, a collar member mounted on said lock cylinder, said collar including an aperture providing access to the keyway of said plug, pivot means mounting said collar to said cylinder for pivotal movement about pivot axes normal to the axis of rotation of said plug in said lock, threaded lock retainer means mounted in said side wall of said housing and shiftable toward and away from said lock cylinder, said retainer means including an inner end portion having an inwardly directed cam surface, retainer seat means axially adjustably mounted on said housing, said seat means having an outwardly directed cam surface in registry with said cam surface of said retainer means, said cam surfaces of said seat means and said retainer means being complementally sloped to shift said cylinder inwardly into said bore of said housing responsive to inward threaded movement of said retainer means. 5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said lock cylinder includes an axially extending slideway, and

said retainer seat means is adjustably mounted in said slideway for axial shifting movement therein.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said threaded retainer means enters said slideway positively to prevent rotation of said lock cylinder in said bore.

7. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said pivot means includes a pivot member threadedly connected to said collar and extending radially into a pivot seat formed in said lock cylinder, said pivot member being rotatable in the unmounted condition of said device, said pivot member being rendered substantially nonrotatable when said lock is in mounted condition on a door by the shearing forces set up when said lock cylinder is shifted into said housing by said retainer means.

8. In a lock of the mortise type including a main housing having a side wall and a mounting bore parallel to said side wall, a lock cylinder axially movably mounted in said bore and having a decorative collar including an aperture nonrotatably mounted to said cylinder to expose the lock plug of said cylinder, said collar being pivotal with respect to said cylinder, a cam seat axially adjustably mounted on said cylinder including a forwardly directed, inclined cam surface, retainer means threadedly mounted on said side wall and having an inner end portion having a rearwardly directed, inclined cam surface in registry with the cam surface of said seat, said cam surfaces being complementally oriented to lock said cylinder against rotation and to urge said cylinder inwardly into said bore of said housing responsive to inward threading of said retainer means against said cam seat.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8 and including keying means extending between said housing and said cylinder to lock said cylinder againstrotation within said bore.

FOREIGN PATENTS 102,907 11/1963 Norway. 177,900 9/1935 Switzerland.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner U.C. Cl. X.R. -451, 452 

